Lesson 11

Chess Tactics: Discovered Attacks & Double Checks!

Part 1: Discovering Discovered Attacks in Chess Concepts:
What is a discovered attack? The most powerful kind of attack The discovered check! Wh the !Cop Cat" #pening never works$

Introducing the Discovered Attack/Check and Why ou !hould "ever #Co$y Cat%! cuuuuuuuuC The term discovery or discovered attack is used when a (rhb1kgw4} piece moves from a rank% file or diagonal and uncovers an 70p0pdp0p} attacking $iece o& the sa'e color (tea''ate) along 6wdwdwdwd} that line* There are three t pes of discoveries% with the 5dwdwHwdw} most powerful &eing the dou&le check 'discussed in Part &wdwdndwd} ()* Discovered Check and Attack are covered here*

3dwdwdwdw} 2P)P)*)P)} To get our !discover part started"% we are reviewing a %$NG !"d#} commonl pla ed% though ver &ad% #pening at the $%&'()*+,- amateur scholastic level: The Copy Cat! +lack,s third move
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nxe4? And 4.Qe2! needs to &e -***d.% which would &e the Petroff Defense% a solid !non/cop /cat" variation* -***01e2 loses* Continue***

The Co$y Cat +$ening Continued , The Devastating Discovered Check! cuuuuuuuuC After 2*3e( &lack can no longer continue to cop with (rhb1kgw4} 2***3e4% as after 5*31e2% if &lack captures white,s 6night 70p0pdp0p} &lack will lose the 3ueen for nothing* Defending the 6night 6wd*dwh*d} on e2 with a move like 2***d5 invites 5*d-% and &lack still 5dwdwHwdw} has ma7or issues to deal with* 8ost pla ers at the &eginner &wdwdwdwd} level will retreat the 6night from e2% walking into a trap*

3dwdwdwdw} 2P)P) )P)} White now has two devious discovered checks to choose %$NGw!"d#} from: The 6night can actuall move an where from e5% and $%&'()*+,- &lack must first deal with the check coming from the 3ueen
T e !ni" t does t e attackin"# and t e Queen does t e checking in t is discovery $arty! on e(* 9n positions with discovered checks% a $%ayer s o&%d %ook for t e 'ost a""ressive %andin" s(&are for the piece in front of the line 'file in this case)* +oth 5*0g.$:% winning the ;ook on h<% and 5*0c.$$: winning the 3ueen are good*

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Lesson 11
The Discovered Attack: The -ost .o/er&ul 0ind o& Double Attack in Chess! cuuuuuuuuC A discovered attack is the same as discovered check% e1cept (wdk4wdw4} the enem 6ing is not directl involved in the attacking move* 70pdn1pgw} +ecause there is no check involved% any effective discovered 6wdpdwdw0} attack must also be a do&)%e attack of some kind* 9n this 5dwdbHw0w} case% white pla s a discover that attacks &oth &lack,s &wdwdwdwd} undefended 3ueen on e4% and checkmate$

3dNdwdwGw} 2P)Pd )P)} 1*01c.$$ wins immediatel * White unleashes a devastating %dw!#dwd#} discovered threat on &lack,s 3ueen 'white,s 3ueen is $%&'()*+,- threatening to capture it) and also threatens to ca$ture
A discovered double attack... t e )est kind!

1*"2a3 check'ate* 9f 1***31e( (*01a4? and if 1***1c. (*31e4% winning enough material to take the game home$

The Discovered Attack Continued: #Less 4aluable% 5nleashed Attacking .ieces! cuuuuuuuuC #ne of the ke components that made our last discover so (wdwdwdw.} effective was that t e )%ack Q&een on e. -as &ndefended. 7dwdrdw0w} 9f the 3ueen had defense & one of her teammates% the 6pdwdwdw0} 3ueen on e( would have onl &een !trading" thus making a 5dpdw1Ndw} 6night sacrifice on c. useless* 9n cases when the piece &wdwgPdwd} under attack is defended% the ke is to &e attacking with a 3dwd dwdw} lesser valued chess'an* Take this diagram for e1ample:

2PdwdwdP)} %dwd#dw/0} +lack wins with the discovered attack 1***+g1$$ This move $%&'()*+,- threatens (***31h( checkmate and unveils an attack from
*ot )%ack+s ,ook and *is o$ are an"in" after 1...*"1# )&t a discovered double attack sti%% -ins!

the d4/;ook to the white 3ueen* 0ote the power of this attack is &ased on the trade of &oth the g1/+ishop and the d4/;ook being better than /hite6s 7ueen* After: (*61g1 ;1d- -*;1d- 3a1: and captures the a(/pawn% winning$

De&ending Against Discovered Attacks and Checks , Al/ays 8e Care&ul! cuuuuuuuuC 9t is the nature of a discover tactic to alwa s come with (rdwdkdn4} some e%e'ent of s&r$rise/ therefore it is an eas idea to 7db0pdw0p} overlook* 9n this position white has the o&vious shot of 6pdpdpd1d} 1*0e5 forking the 3ueen on g. and the d4/pawn* 9t 5dwdw/wdw} seems that this tactic should &e pla ed without an further &wdP2wdwd} consideration% right? Wrong$ +lack has a trick defense***

3dwdwdNdw} 2P)Pdw)P)} 1*0e5? is met & 1***31g($: (*61g( c5:% winning &ack the %$wGwd#!w} 3ueen and remaining ahead & a pawn* @aving a $%&'()*+,- !defensive e e" for a possi&le shot like this from our
1.c5! )%ocks t e *is o$ on ). fro' t e "a'e. opponent is a good idea* White would have maintained a clearl &etter position with the move 1*c5$% and then 0e5*

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Lesson 11
The -ost .o/er&ul Discovered Check: The Wind'ill Tactic! cuuuuuuuuC Another famous !&roken pin" not mentioned in Aesson 1B (rdwdrhkd} would &e from this game% pla ed & two of the greatest 70bdwdp0w} pla ers of the earl (Bth centur * Cormer World Champion 6wdw0pdw0} Dmanuel Aasker has 7ust recentl pla ed the move ***h. to 5d1dwdwG } attack the !pinned" +ishop on g5* 8oving the +ishop would &w)w)wdwd} allow the 3ueen on h5 to &e captured free of charge*

3dwdwHw$w} 2Pdwdw)P)} As mentioned in Aesson 1B% &roken pins can potentiall %dwdw$w!w} turn into powerful discovered attacks$ ;ecogniEe this $%&'()*+,- potential in our own games$ @ere white pla s the move
T is fa'o&s "a'es -as0 112 Torre# 3. 1 4asker# 5. 6osco- 1725

(5*+f.$$% sacrificing the 3ueen to e1ecute a com&ination &ased around the most crushing t pe of discovered check: The Windmill! After (5***31h5 (.*;1g4: 6h< continue***

The Wind'ill Check Continues*** and Continues*** 0ee$s 9oing*** and 9oing! cuuuuuuuuC 9n this position &lack is now at white,s merc $ White could (rdwdrhw.} move the Rook anywhere 'other than g< or h4% which 70bdwdp$w} would lose the ;ook) and the +ishop on f. gives check to 6wdw0pGw0} the 6ing* Dven more importantl % this pattern can be 5dwdwdwd1} repeated until white decides otherwise* ;ook moves% 6ing &w)w)wdwd} takes whichever sFuare he legall can 'either g< or h4) and 3dwdwHwdw} the ;ook goes &ack% and we !rinse and repeat"$

2Pdwdw)P)} %dwdw$w!w} Torre had alread foreseen the most accurate wa to win $%&'()*+,- material via this !Windmill Attack" and he proceeded with:
Tra$$in" t e ene'y !in" in a 8ind'i%% tactic "&arantees at %east $er$et&a% c eck 94esson 22:# and a%so nat&ra%%y creates a $otentia% 'atin" net.

(4*;1f4: 6g< (<*;g4: 6h< (>*;1&4: 6g< -B* ;g4: 6h< and -1*;g5:% winning &ack the 3ueen and eventuall the game after -1***6h4 -(*;1h5 6g. --*;h- 61f. -2*;1h.:% winning* Note that !"R#a$% would be a mistake after -1***6g< -(*;g4: 6h< --*;g5: 6h4 -2*;1h5 6g. -5*;h61f. -.*;1h.: 6g4 and &lack now wins &ack the a(/pawn with enough ;ook activit to maintain drawing chances*

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Lesson 11

Chess Tactics: Discovered Attacks & Double Checks!

Part (: 8ore Discovered Attacks and Dou&le Checks Concepts:
The most powerful check and the 6ing,s worst enem : The &ouble Check! The !'enus (ly Trap mating net$ Gsing discovered check and dou&le check in practical games$

The Co'$lete 4enus :ly Tra$ , A #-ating "et% 8ased Around #Double Check% cuuuuuuuuC 9n its most simple form% the !Henus Cl Trap" mating net (1dwdrdw.} 'also referenced in Aesson 4) looks like our first diagram 7dwdwd*0p} hereI however% this mating pattern can occur in practical 6wdwdwdwd} games in a num&er of different forms so learn it well$ 9t all 5dwd dwHw} starts with 1*0f4: & white% forcing the response 1***6g<*

&wdwdwdwd} 3dwdwdwdw} 2wdwdwdP)} %dwdwdwd0} $%&'()*+,After 1...!"; - ite '&st $%ay forcin" 'oves...

0ow% white seems to &e faced with a tough position: The 3ueen on d5 is under attack% the 6night is attacked & the 6ing% and an $assive 'ove might allow ***;e1% delivering a &ack rank checkmate to the white 6ing* What can white do? Well% as ou will learn arguably the strongest chess move possible in a game is the double check"

The 4enus :ly Tra$ Continued: The !'othered Check'ate Cli'a2! cuuuuuuuuC White pla s (*0h.:: 'two plus s m&ols represent dou&le (1dwdrdkd} check in Alge&raic 0otation)* 0ow% we see a &eautiful 7dwdwdw0p} picture: The 3ueen on d5 is hanging% the 6night on h. can 6wdwdwdwH} &e taken% and if &lack could% heJshe would not hesitate to 5dwd dwdw} deliver check along the first rank* )ut none o* those &wdwdwdwd} things are possible when the +ing is in double check!

3dwdwdwdw} 2wdwdwdP)} T e on%y -ay o&t of a do&)%e c eck is for t e !in" to 'ove %dwdwdwd0} to safet * ;egardless if &oth the pieces giving check are $%&'()*+,- captura&le% there is no wa to take &oth pieces with one
T e <en&s =%y Tra$ -o&%d not -ork -it o&t de%iverin" t e devastatin" do&)%e c eck on 6! move* The &lack 6ing must run to safet with (***6h< '(***6f< simpl allows -*3f4?) and now white delivers the final &low: A 3ueen sacrifice that forces &lack to !smother" his ro al ma7est $ -*3g<: ;1g< and 2*0f4 is checkmate$

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Lesson 11
Double Check is the 0ing6s Worst ;ne'y , ,N-. /0 Can !ave <i'sel&! cuuuuuuuuC To provide further proof that t e do&)%e c eck tr&%y is a (rdbdkdw4} !in"+s -orst ene'y% we move onto a practical e1ample 70p0w1p0p} where the white 6ing finds himself checkmated in the 6wdw0wGwd} middle of the &oard 'in the #pening no less) despite the 5dwgwhwdw} seemingl impro&a&le circumstances that &oth &lack,s &wdwdwdwd} checking pieces are captura&le 'one in multiple wa s)*

3dwHPd*dw} 2P)Pdw)P)} +lack pla s the crushing &low 1***0f-:: and checkmate$ %$wd !"H#} 0ote that 1***01d-:: was also dou&le check% &ut doesn,t $%&'()*+,- measure up &ecause the white 6ing can escape to d(*
A%% t e 'inor $ieces are in t e "a'e!

Despite &oth the f-/6night and the e4/3ueen &eing !under enem fire" the are &oth helping to deliver checkmate$

Doubled Check -ating "ets , ;2a'$le 1: The 0night and =ook Discovery! cuuuuuuuuC We finish with two well known puEEles where a discovered (wd#dwd*d} dou&le check led directl to a forced checkmate* Again% we 7dbdpdr.w} call these mating nets &ecause once the net is thrown 6wdw)w0w0} against the enem 6ing% it is onl a matter of time &efore 5dw0wdwdw} the net closes* White starts off with 1*;g<:$$* After:

&wdwdwdNd} 3dwdwdw$w} 2wdwdr)w)} %dwdwdw!w} $%&'()*+,8 ite to 'ove and force 'ate in t ree 'oves!

1***61g< '1***6h4 allows (*01f.:$ ;1f. -*;-g4 checkmate) (*01f.:: 'not (*01h.:: &ecause (***6h4 escapes the net and it is white who now loses) (***6h< or f< and -*;g<? White sacrificed the ;ook on g< in order to force the &lack 6ing onto a sFuare that allowed the discovered dou&le check to take place* White,s 'ate in 3 was totall forced$

Doubled Check -ating "ets , ;2a'$le 1: The 8isho$ and =ook Discovery! cuuuuuuuuC #ur ne1t classic mating net displa ing a decisive dou&le (rhwdw4kd} check also involves !attracting" the enem 6ing onto the 70wdwdw0p} right sFuare that allows the dou&le check to happen* 6wdpdwdwd} Attraction is t e o$$osite of a def%ection 'Aesson 1() tactic* 5dwdPdbdw} Whereas deflection and deco s take a $iece a/ay from a &wd1dwdwd} 7o& it needs to do% attraction is designed to force a $iece 3d dwdwdw} onto an &nfavora)%e s(&are* Aike forcing white,s 6ing to f1$

2P)PGwdP)} %$wdw!*H#} +lack pla s 1***3f1:$$% sacrificing the 3ueen for a forced $%&'()*+,- checkmate* After (*61f1 +d-:: -*6e1 ;f1 is checkmate$
No $iece is &n1 sacrifica)%e - en t ere is a c ance for forced c eck'ate in t ree!

@opefull our e1amples have revealed 7ust how strong and compelling a dou&le check tactic can &e* The final position shows the ;ook and +ishop working well together in a common mating pattern* White could do nothing to stop it$

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Lesson 11

Chess Tactics: Discovered Attacks & Double Checks!

9nstructor,s Kuide
Whether it &e a discovered attack% discovered check% or discovered dou&le check discoveries are some of the most powerful moves possi&le in a chess game* 6nowledge of these patterns is critical for understanding chess tactics% and will take a pla er to the ne1t level in terms of their tactical vision and awareness* Aesson 11 has &een organiEed in the order we recommend a student learn these concepts* Ltarting with the most !&asic" discover % the discovered attack% and moving onto discovered check and eventuall dou&le check* 9t is easiest to teach students the concept of discovered attack first% as it is trul nothing more than a !trick version" of a dou&le attack% which the are alread familiar with from Aesson >* We gave a !&onus introduction" to the tactical theme of attraction in Part (* Attraction is eas enough to understand 7ust as we e1plained it% &ut &ecause this theme is considered slightl more complicated than the fundamental motifs we have selected for this lesson% we do not go into this concept an further here* @owever% there will &e further e1amples of attraction tactics in Aesson 1(* As suggested in the lesson 1B 9nstructor,s Kuide% it is highl advisa&le for ever chess coach to have a good collection of tactics puEEles on hand for their students* .ractical "otes and Advice , Lesson 11: Try to revie/ each #discovered attack diagra'% on a de'o board or /ith a $ro>ector screen in your class? rather than e2$ecting the students to #sel& revie/% this lesson* I& $ossible? read ahead and challenge your student(s) , a$$roaching each diagra' as a $u@@le &irst? only revie/ing the content a&ter an atte'$t at solving* ou /ill &ind a nu'ber o& highly entertaining 4ideo Lessons to acco'$any this $articular tactical the'e in our video library on ///*Chess0id*co' 5sing &un #/ord association% /ith each ty$e o& discovered attack can hel$ your students co''it the ideas to 'e'ory* :or e2a'$le? you 'ay notice /e use ter's such as #devious%? #devastating%? #dyna'ic% and others to talk about the di&&erent discovered attacks/checks in this lesson*

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Lesson 11 Lesson 11: 5se our Discovery!

Gse our newl discovered knowledge: Cind the !winning discover " in each of the following diagrams: Circle the piece that should move % then circle the s1uare it should move to" ),N234 Write the winning move in Alge&raic 0otation to the right of each diagram*

cuuuuuuuuC (wdwdwdwd} 7.wdwdwdw} 6wdwdwdwd} 5dwd#Nwd1} &wdwdwdwd} 3dwdwdwdw} 2wdwdwd3d} %dwdwdwdw} $%&'()*+,White to play: Can you find the best discovery?

cuuuuuuuuC (wdwd1dkd} 7dwdwdp0p} 6wdwdwdwd} 5dwdwdwdw} &wdwdNdwd} 3dwdwdwdw} 2P)Pdwdwd} %d0dw$wdw} %&'()*+,
White to play: Can you find the best discovery?

cuuuuuuuuC (wdw4rdkd} 70wdwdp0w} 6Ndpd1db0} 5dpdp2wdw} &wdw)wdwd} 3dw)wdPdP} 2P)wdwdPd} %dwd#$w!w} $%&'()*+,Black to play: Can you find the best discovery?
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cuuuuuuuuC (wdwdwdwd} 70w0w$wdw} 6w.Pdwdw0} 5dwdPdw0w} &wdwdw0wd} 3dPd0HwdP} 2wdPdw4wd} %dwdw4wdw} $%&'()*+,White to play: Can you find the best discovery?
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Lesson 11 Lesson 11: 5se our Discovery!

Gse our newl discovered knowledge: Cind the !winning discover " in each of the following diagrams: Circle the piece that should move5 then circle the s1uare it should move to" ),N234 Write the winning move in Alge&raic 0otation to the right of each diagram*

cuuuuuuuuC (wdkdwdwd} 7dwdwdwdw} 6w$wdwdwd} 5dNdwdwdw} &wdwdwdwd} 3dwdwdwdw} 2wdwdwd3d} %d1dwdwdw} $%&'()*+,White to play: Can you find the best discovery?

cuuuuuuuuC (wdwdw1wd} 7d#dPdwdk} 6wdwdwdpd} 5dwdwdwdw} &wdwdw)wd} 3dwdwdw)w} 2Pdwdwdw)} %dwdwdw!w} $%&'()*+,White to play: Can you find the best discovery?

cuuuuuuuuC (wdwdwdw.} 7dwdwdp4w} 6pdwdwdr0} 5)pd1dwdw} &w)wGwdwd} 3dw)wdwdw} 2wdw2w)P)} %dwdwdw!w} $%&'()*+,White to play: Can you find the best discovery?
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cuuuuuuuuC (wdrd14wd} 70bdwgp.p} 6w0whpdpd} 5dwdwdwdw} &w)wHwdwd} 3dwdw)wdw} 2PGwdw)P)} %d"d#d#!w} $%&'()*+,White to play: Can you find the best discovery?
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Lesson 11

5se our Discovery!

Answer 6e
Worksheet Page 1:
Diagra' A1 , 1.Nc6>! ? wins the 3ueen on h5* Circle the 6night* Circle the c. sFuare* Diagra' A1 , 1...Qc;! ? wins the 6night on a. &ecause of the discovered attack on the &lack 3ueen & the white ;ook on e<* Circle the &lack 3ueen* Circle c< sFuare* Diagra' AB 1.Nf6>! ? wins the 3ueen on e<* Circle the 6night* Circle the f. sFuare* Diagra' AC 1.Nc4>! ? wins the ;ook on e1 &ecause of the discovered attack & the white ;ook on e4* Circle the 6night* Circle the c2 sFuare*

Worksheet Page (:
Diagra' A1 , 1.Na.> or 1.Nd6> -in t e Q&een on )1. Circle the 6night* Circle the a4 andJor d. sFuares* Diagra' A1 , 1.*x".>! ? wins the &lack 3ueen on d5* Circle the +ishop* Circle the g4 ;ook* Diagra' AB 1.d;@Q&een> ? wins* White is promoting the pawn to a 3ueen and unleashing a discovered check & the ;ook on &4* Circle the d4/pawn* Circle the d< sFuare* Diagra' AC 1.Nf5>>! ? is forced checkmate in two moves after 1***6g< (*0h. checkmate* Circle the 6night* Circle the f5 sFuare*

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